by Dara Girard
“I knew you’d find him,” Mrs. Sheppard said.
“He’s still not ready to discuss anything. I offered to help but he shut me down,” she said, feeling beaten and sounding defeated.
“He won’t see us?”
“He’s wary.” To say the least, Daniella felt like a failure. In this short time she’d come to care for the Sheppards and wanted to help them reunite with their son. She knew how important family was. She couldn’t imagine not seeing one of her sisters for years.
Their faces fell.
“But I’m not giving up,” Daniella said, trying to rally their hopes. “Tell me more about the trial.”
“Everything was against Trenton. He complained that something mechanical was wrong with the plane, but when the mechanic checked he said that there was no evidence that anything had been wrong with it.”
“There are a few things you should know. Recently our housekeeper told us about a man we’d trusted. Dr. Brooks. He’d hired her to spy on us.”
“Why?”
“She doesn’t know and her story seems a bit far-fetched.”
“But she sounded earnest,” Mrs. Sheppard said.
“Who’s Dr. Brooks?” Daniella asked.
“He testified at the trial.”
“Slandered you mean,” Mr. Sheppard corrected.
“He did his job.”
“To think I’d ever given him a recommendation.”
“You knew him?” Daniella said.
“Most of his life. He was my protégé. I saw something in him that I’d wanted to nourish because as a young man he had been interested in medicine as much as I was. Also, he and Trenton had grown up together. They’d been friends.”
“It’s too awful to think that he had anything to do with what happened, he was like family.”
“Yes, but as time passed I saw that he seemed more interested in money than in helping people.”
“You couldn’t tell that from his first practice?” Marnie sniffed.
Daniella frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Brooks’s medical practice was in, let’s just say, an unsavory part of town. Most of his patients were drug addicts, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it made things hard for him at the time. One time a patient broke into the office and stole drugs. There was an article written about it in the paper.”
“And the prosecution used him?” Daniella said, surprised by their choice.
“Yes. They came up with a valid reason, but I don’t remember it right now. I think you should find out why he hired our housekeeper, Bonita, to spy on us.”
Daniella believed the housekeeper’s claim was a little far-fetched but decided to follow up on it. She spoke to her, but couldn’t get much more information. She didn’t know exactly what Brooks was after, only that he liked to know what the Sheppards were up to.
“Please don’t let him know I told you anything,” she said when Daniella ended the interview.
“As I stated before I won’t breathe a word.”
“The Sheppards are so good to me and I can’t believe that they haven’t fired me. I can’t prove anything, it’s my word against his and he has a reputation that’s much better than my own. But I hope that what I’ve said can help them and their son. I want to pay them back.”
“You already have,” Daniella said, heading to the door.
“Be careful,” Bonita said, but she refused to say why she felt the need to offer the warning.
Daniella disregarded the threat as she thought up her next strategy. First, she read the article about the break-in at his office and then she tracked down the nurse who used to work for him, guessing she would be a good place to start. Daniella offered to pay for lunch. The woman reacted as if she’d offered her the crown jewels. Nona James came to the restaurant dressed to the hilt, but Daniella could tell by the scuffed shoes and slightly worn dress and jacket that she had either borrowed the outfit, or got the items she was wearing secondhand. “I’d always wanted to eat here,” she said, looking around like an eager child on her first trip to the zoo.
“Order whatever you want,” Daniella said, feeling generous. She soon regretted that when the nurse ordered the three most expensive items on the menu. Daniella hoped what the woman had to say would be worth the expense.
“Tell me about Dr. Brooks.”
“He’s a good doctor. The patients loved him although I thought he could have set up his practice in a better neighborhood, but he said he wanted to help those that others have overlooked.”
“I read about the break-in.”
“Yes, unfortunately that was a common occurrence in that area. I didn’t blame him shutting down his practice after the case and working with different clientele. But it was really just one patient he was trying to get away from. He was an addict who had failed every rehab he’d tried.”
“Why didn’t you move with Dr. Brooks to his new practice?”
“I quit after the court case.”
“Why?”
“I discovered that some evidence was suppressed. There were some inconsistencies with the lab results, both from Dr. Brooks and the independent lab he’d recommended, but that wasn’t presented. They just stuck with the proof that the work had come back positive for drugs. I knew that I couldn’t work with a man like that so I left. He acts like he cares and all of his patients love him, still do from what I’ve heard, but there was something about him I didn’t like. I didn’t speak up because I knew it wasn’t my place. I know those corporate suits from Sheldon phoned him a few times, but they were witnesses for the prosecution.”
“Sheldon?”
“Yes, the company that builds planes. Or used to. I think they got bought up or something. Companies are always either getting bought up or going bankrupt, right?”
Daniella only smiled, hoping Nona would get to the point.
She waved her comment aside with an impatient gesture. “Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. The important thing was that they proved that nothing was wrong with their plane and there was no malfunction, just human error. They found an expert who confirmed their findings. The prosecution’s case was strong anyway. I didn’t feel my suspicions would make a difference one way or the other.” She looked at Daniella’s plate. “Are you going to finish that?” Daniella slid her plate across to Nona having lost her appetite anyway. From what Nona had shared she knew that this story would be bigger than she’d imagined.
After lunch, Daniella knew what her next step had to be. She had to go to the man who’d cost Trenton his job, Dr. Brooks. The man the prosecutors had depended on to win their case. Back home Daniella did a quick online search and discovered he wasn’t a hard man to find. Unlike Trenton, he wasn’t shy of the cameras and had no reason to be. He was attractive and eloquent and she knew that stroking his ego wouldn’t be too difficult a task. She picked up the phone and made an appointment.
* * *
“What’s all that junk on your face?” Vera said when she saw Emma at the diner.
“It’s makeup.” It had taken her four days to be bold enough to wear it outside of her bedroom.
“It looks awful on you. Go and wash it off.”
“I think she looks nice,” Uncle Lincoln said.
“No use flattering her.”
“I’m not.” He smiled at his niece and Emma felt her spirits lift. She knew her mother wouldn’t approve, but she did feel better about herself. She held her head higher and although most patrons still didn’t notice her, she didn’t mind. She’d made a new friend. A friend who believed in her.
Emma looked around the diner and her eyes fell on a man she didn’t recognize. He looked so sad and lost. She’d never seen him at the diner before. Probably just passing through but she could sense his hurt, she’d seen it in Rich
ard when he’d first arrived, but this man seemed more defeated, more heartbroken, but there was also an element that frightened her…a seething anger.
She walked over to him. “What can I get you?”
“Whatever your specialty is.”
She told him.
“I’ll take that.”
Then Emma took a deep breath and decided to be bold. “We also offer a listening ear. It’s sometimes good to share your troubles with a stranger and let them out.”
“I’ll just take one apple dumpling to go.”
“Right,” Emma said, feeling foolish. She knew she didn’t have the charm of others and he’d shot her down cold.
She went back to the kitchen and gave the order to the cook.
“I don’t like the looks of him,” her mother said. “At least he doesn’t look like a reporter, but you never know.”
“Leave him alone, Mother.”
“What were you saying to him?”
“I was just being friendly.”
“Don’t be too friendly. You don’t know anything about him.”
Emma resisted rolling her eyes. He’d barely given her a second glance. She doubted he’d even remember talking to her. She returned to his table with the food. “Here you go. And I also made you some tea. It’s free and will help to ease your troubles away.”
He grunted. “Thanks.”
She left him but couldn’t keep her eyes off him. She watched him eat and sip the tea. Most customers left the tea untouched, but he’d been bold enough to try it and seemed to like it. That thought made her smile, hoping that the herbs would ease his troubled mind. He looked so troubled and alone. There was something about him that drew her to him. Perhaps because no one paid much attention to him either, but whatever the reason when she saw him go she felt her heart sink as if she’d lost an opportunity.
* * *
Daniella wasn’t sure what to make of Dr. Brooks. The man she met two weeks later was even more attractive and easygoing than she’d expected. He ushered her into his office and made her feel as welcome as Trenton had made her feel unwelcome. She settled in her chair wondering if she’d gone to the wrong source and as they briefly chatted she sensed that he was genuine.
“Why are you asking about Sheppard again?” Dr. Brooks asked.
“I’m just doing a follow-up on the case. This is merely a formality. How you feel about it after all these years.”
“I didn’t realize there would be renewed interest.”
“There is,” Daniella said, seeing the question in his eyes, but determined to be vague.
He shrugged with regret. “I really don’t have much to add.”
“I’m sure that you do. Your testimony was the most crucial component in the prosecution’s case.”
“And you want to prove me wrong?”
“Oh, no,” she said quickly with a bright smile. “My focus is on the importance of expert testimony in high-profile cases. You can’t deny that it was a very hot issue.”
“Yes, but as I said I just looked at the findings. They were the true witness to the terrible event.”
“What did you think about the company Sheldon?”
He paused. “Nothing.”
“It’s just that Nurse Jones said that they were instrumental in getting things suppressed.”
“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. And I’m just a doctor. I don’t know anything about how the justice system works or what Sheldon’s interests were, I just shared my findings.”
Daniella nodded. “Thank you for your time.”
“Ms. Duvall.”
“Daniella, please.”
“Daniella. One thing I want your readers to know is that being an expert isn’t always easy, especially when someone’s life is at stake. It was a very painful case for me. Trenton and I had been close friends and it was hard for me to do what I needed to.”
“I’m sure it was. It also makes you more admirable to tell the truth despite the consequences.”
“If I were you, I’d let sleeping dogs lie. This case doesn’t need to be opened up again. You’ll be hurting so many people and you just don’t want to do that. Let it go. Go home.”
“Funny, Trenton said the same thing.”
He blinked. “You spoke to Trenton?”
“Briefly.”
“So you know where he is?”
Daniella suddenly knew she should not have offered that bit of information, but Dr. Brooks was beginning to irritate her. Like the others, he was telling her what she should or shouldn’t do.
“Sorry, but I can’t share that information.”
“I’d really like a chance to see him again.”
“I’ll let him know that.”
“You do that. And take my advice. Leave this story alone.”
Daniella smiled and left. What had happened to end the friendship between Dr. Brooks and Trenton? Was there a side to Trenton she didn’t know? Or another side to Dr. Brooks? She walked into the waiting room with her head lowered, lost in thought, and bumped into someone heading in the opposite direction. She stumbled back and gaped at the woman.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, picking up the woman’s handbag. Daniella handed it to her and froze. She knew this woman. She’d seen her before but where? She was impeccably dressed in a designer suit and matching stiletto heels.
“It’s nothing,” the woman said, flashing a gracious smile while retrieving her bag. She walked past and headed straight into Dr. Brooks’s office without announcing herself. Obviously she didn’t need an appointment. Daniella turned to the front door and then remembered. But it couldn’t be. She fished her cell phone out of her purse and brought up the digital image of Trenton his father had sent her. And there she was—the same woman by Trenton’s side was now going into Dr. Brooks’s office and acting as if she knew him. Perhaps she did. But how much? Something didn’t feel right. What was Trenton’s ex-wife doing with the man who’d helped topple his career? This new information was definitely worth looking into.
* * *
Fayola Sheppard Brooks walked into her husband’s office and found him standing by the window. “You look tense, what’s wrong?”
“Could be nothing.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “What?”
He turned to her. “Some woman came around asking about the Sheppard case.”
“Why?”
“She gave me a reason, but I don’t believe her.” She was up to something, but he wasn’t sure what. At least she knew where Trenton was, and that was good. For him. But she knew too much. How had she gotten to Nona? And why was she interested in Sheldon? The company was now dissolved anyway, so she couldn’t find out too much about them, but still he couldn’t let her make a connection between them. He couldn’t let her ask any more questions.
He was a man who liked to win. And so far he had. He had the homes, the cars and the wife. He turned to Fayola. She was definitely a prize worth protecting. She admired him. Everyone did. He deserved his success. He’d worked hard to get it and he wouldn’t let anyone take it away from him. Besides, he never lost. Never.
He’d make sure that the truth would never be revealed—he couldn’t afford it. He’d have to scare her a bit. He could tell she wasn’t experienced and he knew people who could be very persuasive. He’d expected to have heard something from Duane by now, but he’d been strangely silent. Perhaps he hadn’t gotten him riled up enough. He’d have to find something that would send him over the edge so that he’d take care of Trenton for him once and for all. With this girl and Trenton out of the way, he would finally be able to breathe again.
* * *
Emma closed up after a long day at the diner, glad that her shift had ended. It had been a grueling day and she’d ma
de more mistakes than usual, with her mother reminding and berating her for each offense.
“How come you always start dropping things when your mother’s around?” her uncle, Lincoln Maxwell Stone, had asked her as she cleaned up the spill from a glass she’d let slip off her tray. She’d been thankful the glass had been plastic.
Emma shrugged. She always felt comfortable with her uncle, but didn’t know how to answer him. “I wish I knew, but I don’t. I’m sorry, I guess I’m just clumsy.”
“No, you’re not, she just makes you think you are. That’s how she sees you and that’s how you’ve started to see yourself.”
“Because it’s true.”
Her uncle shook his head. “No, it’s not. I’ve watched you all your life and when your mother isn’t around you’re quick and free. I watched the care you take when making tea or garnishing a dish. But the moment Vera shows up, you’re all thumbs.”
Emma stared at him, amazed. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“I never knew that.”
“It’s the truth. I think it happens because you’re trying too hard to please her. I understand. I worked hard to please my parents, too, but there comes a time when you have to stop. And you’re old enough to stop now.”
“But I’ve never pleased her, how can I stop trying? I still hope that one day I’ll do something that will make her proud of me.”
“How long are you planning to wait for that day? Emma, we’re not given infinite time to live on this earth. We’re all just hourglasses that will one day run out. You have to decide where you want to be when your time comes.”
“That sounds morbid.”
“It’s true. Your father left us far too soon with a long list of things he’d wanted to do but was too afraid to try. I don’t want that for you. Vera is a hard woman to please. I know, I grew up with her. You need to start learning to please yourself.”
Emma remembered her uncle’s words as she headed to her car. She was old enough to stop trying to please her mother. She was old enough to start believing in herself and follow her heart. She looked up and saw a pink and purple sky while a sparrow sitting on top of the roof of the diner sang out. She inhaled the soft evening breeze and smiled.